Bay Smooth Jazz 105.9

MICHAEL PAULO WORKING ON SYMPHONIC SET

Saxophonist Michael Paulo is keeping busy performing and promoting several music festivals. The popular Hawaii-based artist says that his next recording project will actually be a symphonic album featuring old favorites as well as new compositions.

Paulo says he got the idea for the project from David Benoit after performing with the Asian American Symphony that Benoit directs. "We started talking about arrangements for that concert and a promoter in Jakarta wanted me to perform with an orchestra too," Paulo told SmoothJazzVibes.com. "One thing led to another and David ended up writing the arrangements for this appearance and we got the idea to record it."

Among the tunes Paulo has recorded for the album are "One Passion," "Last Tango In Paris," "My Heart And Soul," and some new compositions.

Meanwhile, Paulo is gearing up for several festivals, including an appearance at the Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, Pennsylvania later this month and his own event, the Temecula Wine and Music Festival, which is coming up in May. This year the festival will raise money for All From The Heart, a non-profit organization that aids military families.

"We've got Average White Band, Paul Brown with Phillipe Saisse and Jessy J., Marc Antoine, Chieli Minucci, Brian Simpson, Jody Watley, and several more artists," said Paulo of the Temecula fest, which takes place May 3rd and 4th at the Vail Lake Resort in Temecula, California. James Ingram has also been added to the lineup.

For more on the festival, go to temeculawineandmusicfestival.com.

JESSY J SAYS 'TEQUILA MOON' IS NOW HER SIGNATURE SONG

Saxophonist Jessy J is thrilled now that her long-awaited debut album Tequila Moon has been released on the Peak Records label. The 20-something beauty is riding high on the charts with the smooth title track single that showcases her tenor sax chops.

Tequila Moon is a result of Jessy's collaboration with hit maker and guitarist Paul Brown, who has produced smooth jazz hits for himself as well as saxophonists Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Paul Taylor, and others.

While all the songs on the set are close to Jessy's heart, the Southern California musician says that "Tequila Moon" is special because it's her first single and the title of her album. The tune was written by Jessy with Brown at an improvisation session in the studio.

She explained: "I think they're all special in a way. 'Tequila Moon' was a big deal because Paul Brown, when he heard it he said, 'This is a hit.' And he called it, like --this was a year ago when we finished recording everything-- he's like, ' "Tequila Moon," that's your song, people are going to know you by that. In 10 to 15 years they'll say, Remember when you played "Tequila Moon?" ' And that to me was like a huge eye-opener."

Jessy will celebrate the release of Tequila Moon with a listening party March 22nd at Spaghettini's in Seal Beach, California.

CANDY DULFER RECEIVES DUTCH HONOR

Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer was honored Wednesday (March 5th) in her homeland when she was presented with the Golden Harp Award. First presented in 1962, the Golden Harp is the highest honor a musician can receive in the Netherlands and recognizes Dulfer's contributions to Dutch music.

The daughter of respected jazz saxophonist Hans Dulfer, Candy has traveled the world as a sidewoman as well as a solo artist. She currently hosts a popular TV interview and performance program in the Netherlands called Candy Meets, which showcases some of her favorite musicians.

Dulfer recently released her tenth studio CD, Candy Store, in the U.S. and logged a Number One smooth jazz hit with the tune "L.A. City Lights."

As on previous albums, Dulfer pays tribute to the various musical styles and artists that have influenced her work, and says it continues to be important to honor the greats. She explained: "Not many people know a lot about history of music. I think for musicians it's really important to know about it, but fans or just younger people don't always know where things are coming from, and I try to always tell them in interviews what I like and what they should be listening to, aside from the modern stuff they should be listening to, and I just hope I bring that over to them."

Dulfer is set to make several U.S. concert appearances next month, including a performance at the Berks Jazz Festival April 4th in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Mar 28 - April 6th	Berks Jazz Festival	Reading, PA
May 8th	St.Lucia Jazz Festival	St.Lucia
May 2008	Atlanta Jazz Festival	Atlanta, GA